An orchestra knows during the first two minutes of the first rehearsal whether or not they are going to enjoy the person on the podium.

I am usually cooking at least four times a week if I am home. The easiest thing that I do a lot is gazpacho. It's simple and it tastes best if you let it sit over night in the refrigerator... I don't want anybody near me when I am cooking. If I am going to make a mistake, it has to be my fault.

An orchestra knows during the first two minutes of the first rehearsal whether or not they are going to enjoy the person on the podium.

I don't really think about retiring. I will retire just before people start saying, 'I knew Leonard Slatkin when he conducted well.

In some ways I believe music is the more convincing communicator of ideas than words. For instance, we can hear of Kordaly and Bartok and recognise them as Hungarian, but very few of us speak Hungarian, but the music itself speaks to more people.

Growing up in Hollywood, like I did, I have a passion and a love for the movies, so I go to the cinema all the time.

There's not an orchestra in the world that doesn't have weaknesses. None of us can play everything well. The repertoire is just too big.